Chico Chamber of Commerce standouts honored

CHICO -- Calling her members "thought leaders" and action-takers, Chico Chamber of Commerce CEO Katie Simmons stressed how much businesses contribute to the community during the chamber's annual dinner.

On Thursday at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Simmons pointed out how the chamber has reacted to a number of issues that have alarmed businesses, organizing events like last year's business summit to shed light on those issues.

Another business summit is planned Jan. 31 by the chamber.

Issues identified in the first summit — like permit streamlining and educated workforce — have been broached by meetings and strategies.

In dealing with business problems, it's business leaders who play a critical role in helping each other and in creating the kind of community that Chico is.

It hasn't been an easy year for the chamber, which saw a new executive — Simmons — come in, some reorganization occur, and talks over a possible merger with an economic development organization that didn't happen, not to mention a relocation to new quarters on the other side of downtown.

The city agreed to rent space to the chamber in the refurbished Old Municipal Building at East Fifth and Main streets.

Outgoing chair Roger Hart of Hart & Associates noted that business and private sector employees pay for public benefits, a sentiment that has been echoed by Simmons and incoming chair Valerie Reddemann of SynMedia, as well as other chamber officials.

The annual dinner event only took three hours, but the awards handed out represented years of dedication and work by the recipients.